The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
In the wake of public outcry over conditions at the city pound, some City Council members want a replacement plan to move forward quickly.
Deterioration of the 1974 facility has made it hard to control an outbreak of parvovirus, or parvo, which has forced the euthanization of at least two dozen dogs.
Councilman Jim Wood said he wants the shelter project put out to bid in the next 60 days, with construction starting in six months.
"It's an aggressive but realistic schedule," he said.
Animal advocates packed City Hall on Tuesday night to complain about the condition of the shelter. State inspectors cited the city twice in the past year for the shelter's cracked floors and walls, and porous surfaces that trap viruses and prevent proper disinfection.
"We've got to fast-track this as fast as government can go," Councilman Bob Dyer said of a new pound. "We have to show we're capable of action."
Other council members said a lack of money and competing priorities could slow the project.
"When I start hearing about the range of cost, it concerns me," Mayor Will Sessoms said. "We do need something for the animals, but we've got an area of the city that needs a building for children too."
He was referring to a proposed $30 million recreation center near the Lake Edward neighborhood in the Bayside district - a project that is unfunded.
Sessoms said he'd like to explore a public-private partnership to improve the pound. Officials estimate that a state-of-the-art animal shelter could cost between $7.5 million and $15 million.
Deputy City Manager Dave Hansen said fast-tracking the project would require the City Council to budget the money.
Wood said money could be taken from projects that are funded but aren't ready for construction.
"There are always some of those," he said, adding that he will discuss his ideas at next week's budget meeting.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122. aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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Stop puppy mills and backyard breeders
Does anyone think it's time to start a TASK FORCE to stop this mindless breeding of animals by stupid and greedy people who are looking to make a fast buck? IS there not enough evidence that this is the problem that lies at the base of the issue? Where is PETA on this? Can't they make a revolting advertisement to get the publics attention. Oprah is doing it.
Animals are not tennis shoes that you can throw away when you are tired of them. They have feelings and emotions and are not commodities.
The Voters Get It!
Well Jimmyf, that is basically what we do when we build commercial projects. We build all the public infrastructure including necessary roads, bridges, utilities, sidewalks, street lights, storm water facilities, and then build our projects, and all of these improvements are assessed by the city and we pay taxes on them so long as the project exists. Of course, our commercial tenants demand little in services, yet the city of course assesses at 100% of full market value and we pay the same tax rate as residential properties. Generally, a new commercial project on land that had been underdeveloped in the first place will return 20 or 30 times more real estate tax than the previous use. So why these VBTA anti tax zealots oppose commercial development is beyond me. It is like they are working as hard as they can against their own interests. Given the fact that they were rejected at the polls by a 85-15 margin, I guess the voters get it too.
I'll Just Say It
They have to build it and they should build it now no matter what. 1st it the law. 2nd highest tax rate then other citys. 3rd its the right thing to do. 4th The person who was a part of the problem just got something named after them money well spent. 5th if city council can own ocean front property and tax dollars can be spent to make that property look nice (some ice cream spot). What do you think is right.
Pedestrian Bridge
I vote for taking the money from the pedestrian bridge at Town Center, that no one is going to use, and putting it towards this.
Lets think...
To all of the people comparing homeless shelters and Animal facilities. People can go out and get a job, Animals don't have the option to support themself. And for all of the people that think it is a "waste" of money. Before you call animal control because there is a lose dog or animal in your yard, stop and think were is this animal going to go...
Come on people...
Tell you what, Mike
Hows about you developer-types get together, DONATE your talent to the city, the city provides the materials you need and the developers build the new shelter? It seems to me that you developers have spent DECADES profiting from the favorable treatment you receive and the taxpayer dollars that are allocated to the things you want, isn't it about time you started doing something significant to show that you're not just feeding yourselves as the trough?
What if your company, Runnymeade were to do it? Not only would I support calling it the "Animal Shelter at Runnymeade" or whatever you'd like, your company would have a feather in it's cap that would be well-earned, oh, BTW, many of the ladies involved in animal welfare are REAL ESTATE AGENTS who might be more inclined to steer their clients your way.
Something to think about....
SD1955 had it right
There is already a Bayside Rec. Most children in VB (all parts) don't live within walking distance of a rec center. I was at the meeting advocating the shelter, and I heard the rec center people speak. They want council to believe that their children only rob stores, sell drugs, and shoot each other because there is no rec center within walking distance. Wake up folks... Even if the rec was in your own back yard, your kids would trash it and shoot each other outside of it. The animal shelter is a city responsibility and INNOCENT animals are dying because of its condition. Please note that INNOCENT part. The dogs are not shooting each other. They are getting sick and dying or being needlessly put to sleep because of an inadequate building, no vaccinations, and a remote location citizens don't often visit.
Sense of Humor
Well aalto, it is good to see that you do in fact have a sense of humor, although I am not sure you meant it that way. Perhaps you simply did not read my post as I had said that a PPV with a non profit might make sense for the city. At some point, it would be helpful for you to deal with the very real benefits provided by commercial development instead of avoiding that discussion and simply insulting anyone who suggests that public investment in public infrastructure can create increases in the commercial tax base that can lower the residential tax rate. If in fact a lower residential tax rate is what you want, the tactics you have adopted and advocated are entirely out of sync with that objective, as evidenced by the recent upsurge in commercial assessments that have allowed the city manager to keep the real estate tax rate exactly where it is even though residential assessments have decreased. That's no laughing matter.
That didn't take long
Soon as the PPV word went out, the developer in VB is drooling over the possibility of taking tax dollars to fund new development.
So what are you thinking Mike? A new doggie TIF? Doggie condoinimums? Doggie shopping center? A doggie lite rail? Maybe a doggie amusement park or two? Doggie hotel with city subsidized parking garage?
I am sure you can find a way to take tax dollars and turn it into a major investment for the city all geared toward a profit for you.
Failure to think
Once again, aalto reveals the hysteria of the anti tax zealots who once again fail to acknowledge that some investments in public infrastructure result in immediate private investment that results in increases in real estate tax to the General Fund in excess of 20 or 30 times more than the property in its current use. That immediate influx of new tax revenue can be used to finance improvements like a new animal shelter, improved technology in the public schools, or an improved fire station for Thalia. This incessant failure to acknowledge the benefits of commercial development is hard to understand since the result of that development is what helps keep our real estate tax rate as the lowest in the region. The Mayor's call for a possible PPV also makes great sense, and if a non profit is willing to do the expansion in return for lease payments or payments for service, that may accomplish the same thing without a capital outlay from the City. Stop with knee jerk reactions.